Improvement in apparatus and processes for manufacturing illuminating-gas



'4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

V H. W. ADAMS. Apparatus and Process for Manufacturlng Illuminating Gas.

No. 204,181. Patented May 28,1818.

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INVENTOR Iliiiil v 1 4 arpihmtzzfi N. Pg'rins, PROTO-QTMOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. n. O.

4 Sheets-SheenZ. H W. ADAMS. Apparatus and Process for Manufacturing Illuminating Gas.

Patented N-PETERS, PNOTO-UTHMRAPMER. WASHINGYON. D. C.

4 heets-Sheefl 3. H.-W. ADAMS. Apparatus and Process for Manufacturing Illuminating Gas Eaten-ted May 28, 1878.

N- PETEN, FNDTDJJTHOGRAFHER, WASHINGTON, D. C.

4 Sheetsf-Shet 4'.

H. W. ADAMS. Apparatus and Process for Manufacturing Illuminating Gas.

No. 204,181. Patented May 28,1878.

'- INVENTOR WITNHS ".PETERS, Fuoro umcsmhusn, msnma'ron, o. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.--

HENRY W. 'ADAMS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT lN APPARATUS AND PROCESSES FOR MANUFACTURING ILLUMlNATlNG-GAS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 204,181,- dated May 28, 1878 application filed =May 7, 1878.

steam, and mixing and combining together the gases generated from these and similar materials into one compound fixed gas of s11.- perior illuminating power, in the same-retort, by means of the same :heat, and in the same time usually allowed for the distillation, of a similar charge of coal'alone.

The object of my invention is-to make a larger quantity ofgas from coal and other similar materials than has heretofore been done, and to increase and cheapen this production still further by the use of gas generated from water orsteam, and enriched by oil or other oleaginous matter. To do this, I subject gas-yielding coal, wood, peat, turf, or any other suitable gas-making and coke-producing materials to destructive distillation in close retorts, in such a manner as to make no tar nor ammoniacal liquor, as is now the case, or, at least, so trifling av quantity aspractically to amount to none, and by this means to increase very largely the production of gas from coal, wood, peat, turf, or any other similar bodies capable of being resolved into gas, tar, and coke.

The retorts now in common useare open at one end and closed at the other. The standpipe for the escape of the gas from the retort is placed on its upper side, near its open end, which projects from the front side of a the bench by means of a cast-iron neck, secured to the retort proper by aflange and bolts. When a charge .of gas-coal is put-in the retort is usually at a cherry-red heat, while the coal is cold. The first effect is that the coal is heated up to the temperature of boiling water, which causes a distillation of' the water or moisture in the coal. As the heat of the coal is not suflicient to decompose the steam thus generated into oxygen and hydrogen gases, it escapes directly by the cool standpipe, and condenses inthe hydraulic main,

and cooler. When the heatis sufficient some nitrogen unites with hydrogen and forms amcooler.

coal rises to a heat sufficient to distill oft its bitumen, but not to decompose it to permanent gas, this vapor of gas-tar passes directly outvof the retort through a cool stand-pipe, and condenses also in the hydraulic main and This process of making tarand ammoniacal liquor from a fresh charge of coal undergoing destructive distillation in the common coal-gas retort goes on until the coal' in the retort is raised to a red heat, when the bituminous matter in it is decomposed and converted into several fixed gases, which,

.when purified, are stored in gasometers for hilluminatin g purposes.

.Each of the aforesaid secondary products amounts to twelve gallons of tar and twelve gallons of ammoniacal water, or more, to the ton of coal. from a ton of coal is not far from four and one-quarter feet to the pound of coal, or eight The oxygen combineswith the carbon of the red-hot coal and produces carbonic-acid and carbonic-oxide gases, the latter of which, with the hydrogen generated, produces a very large volume of combustible gas, but poor in illuminating quality. The tar -the richest product of carbonaceous matter yielded byjthe coal, and the most valuablepart for gas-makingis capable of being decomposed and converted into a gas excessively rich' in carbon, and possessing avery high degree of illuminating power. When the former poor gas and the latter rich gas are made in the same retort and at the same time, they unite in a nascent state, and compose a fixed gas of excellent quality. The quantityof gas is thus very largely increased from the same charge of coal. This increase amountsto about onethird of the present volume of gas obtained from a given charge of coal,,distilled,in the ordinary coal-gas retorts, having stand-pipes on their front ends. To effect an object so de sirable, l locate'the coal to be distilled in the distilling apparatus, so that the first vapors of tar and moisture, which start out of the The average production of gas I excellent illuminating power. i

composed, shall'be compelled to'pass over and through a considerable body of red-hot coke,"

orpartially-distilled coal, or other decomposing surfaces, for a considerable distance before they reach the stand-pipes, and thus be concompose oil, petroleum, naphtha, or any other suitable oleaginous matter, and conjunctively therewith to decompose water-preferably superheated steam-in order to increase the quantity and diminish the cost without-impoverishing the quality of coal-gas produced from a given charge of coal or other similar material. During the latter part of the period of distillation the gas' from the coal undergoing suchdistillation grows poorer in carbon. and richer in hydrogen. Its illuminating power is thus lessened, and, moreover, its quantity is very considerably diminished be. low the amount yielded during the first period of distillation. .By supplying a stream of oil, petroleum, naphtha, orother oleaginous body to the retort whose charge of coal has been partially distilled and converted into red-hot coke, in conjunction. with superheated steam, the yield of gas from the coal is. re-enforced by the large volumes now generated in. the same retort and by meansof the same heat, and in the same time, from the oil and steam, of superior brilliancy, with no other cost or trouble except the expense incurred for the fluid gas-yielding matter andthe steam. coal-gas 'retortis thus made to perform a triple duty, and producea product larger in quantity and relatively'cheaper. l

Inymaking gas from water, in conjunction ,'with oil, petroleum, napththa, or other similar gas-yieldin g fluid and oleaginous materials, and with partially-distilled charges of coal, in the same retort, and by means of the same heat, I prefer to use superheated steam, so as not to cool the retort by feeding into it water, or even common wet steam.

It is better to convert the water into steam in a boiler in the ordinary manner, and then to superheat it by any of the known methods, before it is admitted to the retort, charged with partially-distilled coal orother similar body, into which oil and other similar fluid matters are fedat the same time. Then the process goes on rapidly without detriment to the proper decomposing heat of the retort. The rich oilgas and the pooruwater gases mingle together in a nascent state, and, with the coalgas still being generated from the coal, unite and-compose a good .fixed gas of A Having'stated'the objects of my invention, I will now show:-how.-these objects maybe fullyfrealized inf'practice.

- The drawings which accompanythis specification, and which are made a part of it, show one mode of carrying'out my invention.

Similar letters with similar primes represent. similar parts in all the drawings.

Figure 1 represents a working bench of four retorts, coupled together in reciprocatin g pairs, with all their connections in perspective. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the line at w of Fig. 3, showing a front elevation of the bench.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line y y of Fig.2, showing a section of one retort and its various connections. Fig. 4; is a section through the hydraulic main, showing a section of the dip-pipes, provided with a ring of holes above their lower ends, for causing the gas to shoot through them into the fluid which seals them in horizontal jets, and to be washed from lamp-black, also showing the sealing. buckets in relation thereto, drawn throughthe line 2 z. Fig. 5 is anenlarged vertical sec- .tion drawn through the line a; as, showing the method of introducing steam and petroleum or other oil into. a mixing-pipe, and drawing the tarry and aqueous vapors and gas from a .reciprocatin g retort, and mixing all theseproducts together-namely the tarry and aqueous vapors and gases coming from a retort containing a fresh chargeof coal or other similar material, together withastream of oil, petroleum,naphtha, or any other suitable gasmak ing fluid and steam-and injecting them together, in a mingled and heated condition, into, a retort charged with red-hot coke or partially.

distilled coal or other equivalent material, and

dispersing themthrough the same, to be decomposed and recomposed into fixed illuminating-gas. Fig. 6 is. a perspective view of the inclinedapron or oil-gutter placed in the mouths of all the retorts, when charged with coal, to receive the inflowing' stream of oil,

petroleum, naphtha, or other fluid oleaginous jmatter, and conduct them back into the interior of the retort and onto the red-hotcoke or partially-distilled coal, and prevent them fromforming a puddle in the cooler necks of the retorts. Fig. 7 is an enlarged section on the line y 3 showing a tubular cutter in all the stand-pipes, for keepingthem clear of any deposition of carbon.

A shows a bench of four gas-retorts set in a furnace, and provided with all the connections for operating them. B (J DtE are four retorts, set in a furnacein the common method, and are connected together, so as to. be operated in reciprocating pairs, for generating tended to fulfill a similar officer, c'ocks on R S, to let steam into them from-the or partially-distilled coal, or its equivalent, to be fully decomposed and recomposed intoav ,fixed illuminating-gas. In these two. crossp ipes F and Gare placed, near their opposite ends, steam nozzles or tees, openingtoward each other,'and being intended to deliver jets of steam.- These nozzles in F- are shown by H I, and in G'by J K, They are respectively connected to the steam-pipes L M andbranches V N O,.which steam-pipes are also connected with the superheaters P Q. I These are castiron pipes, about a foot indiameter and about eight feet long, and areplaced'in the lower flues of the furnace, through whichthefurnace discharges all its utilized gases into the stack. Here they get red-hot without robbing the retorts of their needful heat. Both ends.

of these superheaters are closed. R is asteampipe, about half. an inchin diameter, more or less, which enters the-superheater P at its outer end, which projects from the front of the furnace, and passes through its interior in a parallel direction and to within-a few inches ofits rear end. Its end is open, so as to deliver steam from a steam-boiler, with which this pipe is supposed to be connected, into the rear of P,'in order that it may have to travel back to the front end and be superheated by contact with the interior sides of the red-hot pipe P. S is a similar steam-pipe, and similarly situated in the superheater Q, and is in- T U are boiler and to shut it OK. V-is a cock on the steam-pipe L, to let steam onto or. shut it off from the retort O; and'W-is acock on--M,'to

,let steam onto or shutit off from the retortB,

X is a cock on the steam-pipe ,N, to let on steam orv shut'it off from the retort E; and Y is a cock on the branch-pipecO; to let on steam orshut it ofl' from the retort D; Z shows a valvein the cross-pipe F. A is its seat. -B is the handle. 0 is the stuffing-box on ,F through which the handle B works.- D is. a-similar valve on thepipe Gr. E is itsseat. I F is its handle, working through the stuffing-box Gr. These rods are one inch and a quarter in diameter, andare provided with auger-handles ontheir ends, for pulling them out or pushing them-in. The cross-pipes]? andG are about six inches in diameter. The valves Z and D are round and beveled, so that that they will pass through V and wedge in a ring of I metal} cast in theinside of the cross-pipes Fand G, which ring is smaller in diameter than the interior of the .said'pipes. These valves, pushed into their seats or pulled out from them, either close the communication between the-retortsr-Band O and between D and E, .or open-it, as the case may be., The object of these valves-is toshut d the connection between the retorts when charging one, so as not to lose-thegas fromthe other. 7

2 H is a reservoir for holding oil, petroleum,

, naphtha, or any fluid gas-yieldingmaterial.

It may be of anydesired 'size It-should be O D E at their rear-ends.

' made of boiler-iron, and be perfectlyftight. I

is'a pipe forfllling it by means of a pump. J

is a float for indicating the quantity of oil in the reservoir. K is a safety-tube for allowing any vapor to escape. It should be long enough to passup through the roof of the retort-house.

Its top may have a light safety-valve. L M N O are, pipes, which enter the under side of II, for the purpose of drawing oil out of it.

P Q R. S are valves for opening and shutting, these pipes. T U V W are four pipes for" conducting oil, petroleum, naphtha, or any other oleaginons matter to the cross-pipes F and G, and from thence to the retorts B O D t E. These pipes are provided with bends about .pipes'E G. q The stream of oil or other fluid gasproducing material, when flowing through these pipes, falls through the cross-pipes F and G, mixed with and heated by the superheated steam, and byv the hot vapors coming from the fresh-chargedretort into theretorts B O D E,

and what is not vaporized and blown. forward ,ontothe red-hot coals by the steam-jets falls onto an inclined apron vor gutter, which is placed in the mouth of each retort when charged. with coal or other similar body, for

the purpose of'causingany such liquid to flow .back into. the hotter part of the retort, and be 'deliveredonto the red-hot and partially-distilled coal, and be converted into gas. This apron is represented by B. Itis .made of sheet-iron.-,- A hole is punched through one end, so "that a hook can .be run into it to pull it out ofthe retorts easily and quickly when the doors are removed, for the purpose of charging them.

C G G 0 represent the four stand pipes,

which are -connected with the four retorts B These stand-pipes are one foot in internal diameter, so that they may not. be liable to choke up with carbon.

The back ends of the retorts are always red hot, while their front ends are never so. It is better, therefore, to allow the gas to escape from the back ends of the retorts, which are always the hot ends, and which will cause a much more effectual decomposition of the tar vapors in the gas than to take it from the cold ends in front, as is the case with ordinary coalgas works. Besides, in all such works the tar-charged vapors and moistureidistilledjfrom the-front ends .of their charges, lacking the proper heat to decompose themto gas, pass directly into. the cooler necks of the retorts in front, and ascend the stillcooler stand-pipes, and-condenseabundantly in the hydraulic main, and-cause a great loss of gas. By compelling the gas-tar and aqueous vapors now formed inthe front ends of. the charges to pass through the red-hot ends of the retorts and escape from red-hot stand-pipes, much less tar and much more gas can be made from a given charge of coal. This is the reason why I place my stand-pipes in the rear ends of the retorts. I make them very large in diameter to protect them from filling up with carbon.

As another protection against the choking of these stand-pipes with hard carbon at their mouths, I remove them from the direct action of the fire by placing them in the extreme rear end ,of the retorts, and then incasing them with the stand-pipes in the brick-work of the rear end of the furnace, so that they are partially shielded from the more intense heat of the fire. The efl'ect of this arrangement is that while they are quite hot they do not burn the gas and deposit its rich carbonaceous portion in solid layers on the inside of these pipes.

Only a small quantity will form in their mouths,

and to prevent the accumulation of this I employ a tubular cutter having nearly the same I diameter as the stand-pipes, and operate it by an attached rod passing through a slot in the flanges or plugs at their tops. These slots are oblong, so as to allow lugs on the rods of the cutters to pass through. them and rest on the tops of the flanges, and so hold up the cutters in the tops of the stand-pipes when not in use. The joints are made sufficiently tight by stiif pug or putty. This cutter is shown by D, and the rod by E, and the lug by F.

At any time, when desired, the engineer can go to the tops of the stand-pipes and turn the rods one-quarter round, so that the lugs on the rods will pass through the oblong slots in the flanges, and thrust the cutters down the standpipes and into the retorts, and assure himself that they are open. This is a very great convenience. The large diameters of these pipes and the tubular cutters with which they are provided give ample security to the gas-en gineer that theseimportant and most exposed pipes will occasion no trouble. The outsides of these cutters are armed with teeth or spiral cutting-edges, so as to aid in removing any hard deposit which may from time to time accumulate, from neglect, on the insides of these pipes near and round their mouths and junctions with the retorts. G shows these teeth or spiral cutting-edges.

"By putting the cross-pipes F and G on the front ends of the retorts outside of the furnace, so that their valves and pipes cannot be harmed by the fire, and so that they can be easily got at and opened and repaired, and by keeping forcible jets of steam shooting through them, so that they cannot choke up, and by compelling the gas to escape from the red-hot ends of the retorts in the rear, and through red-hot stand-pipes, by which means the tar and aqueous vapors, hitherto so imperfectly distilled and decomposed, which are discharged from the coal in the front ends of the retorts are much more effectually'and thoroughly converted into gas, I believe I have effected a decided improvement in the destructive distillation of coal for illuminating pur poses. y j H" H H H" show the four saddle-pipes,

provided with steam-pipes J" J J" J, at-

tached to their upper ends, for the purpose of mon sizes of these pipes are not sufiicient. 1

Gas, as it issues from the retort, is always loaded with'fine particles of carbon, whichit is necessary to remove. This is now done by causing the gas to bubblethrough the tar, which seals the dip-pipes in the hydraulic main 5 .but the gas escapes from the lower ends of the dip-pipes in such large volumesas to prevent proper contact with the sealing-tar, and the result is that much of the fine carbon is carried by the gas intothe coolers, limepurifiers, and gas-holders. In fact, any one can notice itburning in every gas-light in little sparks just above the tops of the burners. To cause,-therefore, a more thorough cleaning of the gas from this fine carbon in the by draulic main, I bore a ring of holes, about three-fourths of an inch in diameter and about half an inch apart, round and through the dip-pipes, about one inch above their bottom ends. I then fill the hydraulic main witha fluid, hereinafter to be described, so that these holes in the dip-pipes shall be one inch (more or less) below the level of the fluid in the hydraulic main, and their bottom ends be two and three-quarter inches below the top sur face of the sealing-fluid. The effect is that the gas generated in the retorts presses the fluid, whether it be tar or any other proper liquid, down in the dip-pipes until it comes to the ring of three-quarter-inch holes bored through their sides, and then escapes in'divided and horizontal streams, shooting out in a ring of jets, presenting'more gaseous surface to the fluid, going farther, and remaining longerin it, and being more effectually stripped and washed from its fine carbonaceous impurities. 1 I I" I I" I" show these holes, as before described, through the sides and one inch above the bottom ends of the dip-pipes. The buckets under the dip-pipes in the hydraulic main are fifteen inches in internal diameter. They rest on the bottom of the main. Their tops are just high enough to be on a horizontal line with the lower sides of -the rings of holes through the dip-pipes, one inch above their bottom ends. The effect of this arrangement is that the dip-pipes extend down into the buckets one inch. The buckets cannot therefore get out of position, as they rest on the bottom of the main, while their tops, being one and three-quarter inch below the sur: face of the fluid in the main, allow the gas to shoot outthrough'the ring of holes in the dippipes and pass over the tops of the buckets and through the superincumbent fluid. These buckets are indicatedbyM N Byraising'ithem until their bottoms touch-thebot.-

toms of the dip-pipes, or until the sealisdeep enough, the fluid, which theyjcarry up in them, seals the holes in their sides still deeper.

Ihis device enables me to turn the gas gen-. erated in oneof the reciprocating retorls into the other, as will hereinafter be shown. .To operate these buckets, iron rods threefourths of an inch in diameter are made fast to their bottoms, and extend 'up centrally through the dip pipes, and pass through the. flanges and stuffing-boxes on their tops, ,Th'ese rods are indicated by 0 0. O 0. .To the tops ofthese rods the levers P .Q.,B S, providedwith fulcrums T 'l T T,'are attached. Byele'vating or lowering thelong arms of the levers the buckets are raisedor lowered accordingly. vThe hydraulic main is shown by U, and V isan overflow-pipe, which carries off the gas, and also the liquid accumulations. The level of the fluidinthe mainis. flush with the bottom side of this discharge.- r re- W is a P e r Pum any q d into the main. X shows a pipe for drawing off the contents of the. main, Y is a steam pipe, through which stea'm from asteam-boiler is delivered in a forcible jet into the pipe V, for the purpose of making an exhauster. to

pump the gas fromthe retorts. and to prevent.

the damaging effect ofpressureof gas in them. In the ordinaryprocess of manufacturing coal-gas from coal, such a large 'quantityof tar and ammoniacal waterare'made thatthe constant overfiow'of these products from the discharge-pipe attached to the hydraulic main carries off with it the fine. carbon mixedwith.

the tar, and thus keeps the ,main free from its accumulations. Thisis. not the case with my process. If I commence to makegas with my main filled with tar or some other. fluid, in a few days the liquid in the main will .become so thick and viscid with theadmixture of fine carbon injected into it bythe gas from the retorts that the flow of gas through the.dip-= pipes is obstructed, until finallythe main has to be cleaned out and refilled, Nor can pure water'be used in the hydraulic main in place of tar, because the dry and hot lamp-blacker minutely-divided carbon which the gas brings abundantly out of the retorts in all gas-works flies through the water without being moistened by it and penetrated, and consequently without being entangled in it antlhflld back by it. To'provide against this contingency, 1'

therefore mix water with soap, gelatine,gum,

alkali, or some similar matters, by which an emulsion or a gelatinous or. mucilaginous or soapy fluid is prepared, in which pulverized charcoalwill readily mix, and pump this into. the main as occasion requires, to keep it free from obstructions from this source and to wash the gas from this impurity. In preparingthis fluid to fill my main the rule to goby is this;-

Take a givenquantity of water and mix with it enough soap, gelatine, lglue, gum, soda, potash, or oil, tar, or heavy petroleum,in which an emulsion with water, and prepare a liquid withwhich 7 pulverized charcoal will; readily will answer well for the hydraulic main of an gasorks, and will clean ilamp black in a satisfactorymanner, I Having described the objects of my-inven-I' ition, andone'form of apparatus for the accom-, gplish nentof these objects, I will now show what deem to be the bes method of operating it; .gIt is understood that my observations now re-f.

fgas-coal with which the reciprocating retorts :O and E are to'be. charged. 'It is understood ,that all'the'valves between the retorts and the hydraulic main; are, now open. now charge these last-mentioned retorts with .two hundred pounds of. gas-coal in each ldrav'r out the valve Z by the handle B in the cross, Epip'e F, which opens a communication between =valve D by the handle F in the cross-pipe G, ;which opens acommunication between'the re itorts D and E. I also pull down the levers the gas coming off fromthetwo fresh charges; Eput intothempasses into the. cross-pipes}? land G, and through them into the two retorts' B and D, which are chargedwith red-hot coke.) 1By passing over and through it,zthe tarry and :aqueous vapors which are expelled .fromi the .coal in-O and E while it is heating .up. .to a redheat are decomposed into fixed gas. The tar-gas and thewater-gas-from the coal, being generated together, recombine in a nascent :brilliancy. The gas passes into. the stand pipes and through the saddle-pipes and dip- 1 pipes K L", which are in communication with the retorts :B and -D, andescapes through holes in the said dip-pipes, whose buckets are down, andwhose rings of holes, therefore, have a less seal than the rings of holes in the two dip-pipes M N, whose buckets M ,N

' cross-pipes F andG;.over the retorts B and D. I also open the two valves 1? Q in .thepipes L. M. This causes oil, petroleum,naphtha, 'or any other fluid. gas-yielding material. to .rles ndi t t e tw Inter-$ 2, c ar d with enough soda or potash hasbeen mixed to, form.

imixinto a'wet and pasty mass. Such'aflui'd.

se the gasfi'Q L-its "fer to abench of four. retorts, as showninimy} tarry and aqueous vapors' from the charge ct ithe, retor'ts B and O. I also draw out. the.

R S, which. raises the buckets M N and seals the dip-pipes M NQwhich -communi.- cate with the vretorts O and E, so deeply. that;

-. state, andcompose an illuminating-gas of rare are up. At the same timeI open theoihvahfifi; X Y. in the feed-pipes T U, which enterthe" I red-hot coke, and to fall onto the inclined aprons B B, which conduct it back'into the red-hot coke, where itis vaporized and decomposed into gas during its passage throughthose retorts. At the same time I open the steam-valve U, and let steam from theboiler into the pipe S in the superheater Q. Ithen open the steamvalve W in the steam-pipe M and the valve Y in thebranch steam-pipe O. This lets jets of superheated steam escape from the nozzles or tees I "K in the cross-pipes F and G. The superheated steam-jets, shooting from these nozzles, expandand make an exhauster in the mixing-pipes F G, and draw out the tarry and aqueous vapors and gases from the fresh charges of coal in the retorts G and E, and mix with them and with thestreams of oil falling into the pipes F G from the pipesT U, and inject them together into the retorts B and D. These retorts, charged with red: hot coke, are now in a suitable condition to receive these mixed products and decompose them, and recombine them into a fixed gas of extraordinary illuminating power. The steam is also let into the pipe Y, to make a pump in the overflow-pipe V and remove the press ure fromthe hydraulic main and draw the gas out of the retorts as soon as it is generated.

The retorts are to bekept up to a very high red heat, varying into an incipient white. By giving themconstant supplies of gas-yielding material a higher degree of heat may be carried on the retorts and gas be generated moreabundantly than with a low heat. This operation goes on steadily for two hours, (more or less,) or until the charges of coal in the retorts O and E have been distilled for one-half the period of time allotted to their distillation. The gas is cooled, purified by lime, measured, and stored in gas-holders in the usual way. At this period I begin to prepare to draw the coke in the retortsB and D, and to charge them with gas-coal. I-first shut the valves P Q in the oilpipes L M and the valves X Y in the siphon feed-pipes T U. I then shut the steam-valves Yand W and push up the levers Rand S, which lowers the buckets M and N and diminishes the seal of the dip-pipes M and N. I then pull down the levers P and Q, which lifts up their buckets and increases the sealof the dip-pipes K and L. After this I shut the valves Z and D. This closes the communication between the retorts B and G and between D and E, and prevents the gas escaping from G and E while B and D are being charged. 1 now loosen the doors on the retorts B and D and set fire was escaping gas -to prevent a rap. I then pull out the aprons B B and plunge them into water to cool them. I then draw the coke from these retorts and charge them with about two hundred pounds of gas-coal in each, put in the aprons B B, and close the doors. I then immediately open the two valves Z and D and the steam-valve Y, and let steam from the boiler into the pipe R in the superheater P. I then open the two steam-valves V and X in,

the steam-pipe Land the oil-valves R S and Z A. This causes streams of oil, petroleum,

naphtha, or any other oleaginous fluid which which steam-jets also expand and impinge against the interior sides of F and G, and tend to create a vacuum in the rear of these points of impingement, and therefore to draw by sue.

tion the tarry and aqueous vapors and gases from the fresh charges of coal in the retorts B and D into the mixing-pipes F and G, and inject them, with the oil streams, into the retorts G and E, to be dispersed through and over their red-hot charges of partially-distilled coal, and

to be decomposed conj unctively with the steam, and their elements, together with gas still being generated from the partially distilled charges of coal in these retorts, are recombined in their nascent state into a fixed gas of high illuminatingpower, and passed through the red-hot stand-pipes of these retortsinto the hydraulic main.

' It is to be here observed that thecourse of y the gas is now reversed. I wish it also to be distinctly understood that the great novelty and utility of my invention are now and here completely unfolded and shown in this operation, as distinguished from all processesof gas-makinghitherto known by me, and as constituting the life of my invention, namely,

that the fixed gas thus manufactured is a,

combination, in one retort at the same time and by means of the same heat, of the gaseous elements derived from four distinct and separate sources, namely, from the tarry and aqueous vapors and gases coming fromthe fresh charges of coal in the reciprocating retorts B D, and the superheated steam-jets escaping from the nozzles H andJ, and the streams of oil, petroleum, naphtha, or any other suitable oleaginous matter from the pipes V W, and the gas generated from the partially-distilled charges of coal in the re torts O and E; The poor gases generated from the steam combined in a nascent state with enough of the excessively-rich carbonaceous matter of the oil, petroleum, naphtha, or other similar body to make a good compound illuminating-gas, while the coal-tar and ammoniacal water, now secondary and unutiliz'ed products in the ordinary coal-gas works,

being decomposed together by my process, so

recombine as to produce a rich and permanent gas; j

So effectually do I decompose this coal-tar and ammoniacal water that I do not make one drop of either when proper care is taken to maintain the heat of the retorts at the proper degree. When it is considered that a ton of gas-coal, distilled in the method now commonly practiced, produces not generally less than twelve gallons of coa1-tar,and'oftenmore than this quantity of ammoniacal water, thus making together twenty-four gallons or more of liquid gas-yielding products, which, when decomposed in conjunction and combined together, make a good fixed illuminating-gas, there can be no good ground left for marvel atthe assertion which I here make that my process of distilling coal produces at least one: third more gas of superior quality from a ton of coal than the mode in common use by coalgas companies. I do not get tar enough to seal my dip-pipes in my hydraulic main. To meet this deficiency I am obliged to prepare water, as heretofore explained, to seal them. Besides, by supplying oil and steam to my retorts in graduated and constant streams during the latter-part of the period of distillation, when theircharges of coal are red hot and are partially converted into coke, and in a suitable condition to receive a re-enfoicement of gasyielding material, I keep up a flow of gas from my retorts, uniform in quantity and quality, to the very end of the period of distillation.

By this means I confidently assert that I get as much gas and as good gas outof one retort, and by the same heat, as can be obtained from two retorts charged with coal alone, and distilledfor the same length of time.

This fact develops another economical value of my invention. Onlyabout one half the number of retorts are required to manufacture a given quantity of gas by my process compared with the number needed to produce an equal amount of gas by the process now universally in use by coal-gas companies. The expenses for laborand material are correspondingly reduced. a

I have shown one form Ofapparatus for carryin g out my invention. Other plans may be devised to do the same thing, and therefore I shall 'claim,broadly, independently of any apparatus, the process of making fixed gas for. illuminating and heating purposes, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

I have shown how my reciprocating retorts are charged and operated. These operations are to be continued, as stated, charging each retort every four hours, and reversing the gas and the oil and steam feed into the reciprocating retort at the same time, and charging each retort two hours apart. This process requires that the charge of coal, wood, peat, turf, or any other gas-yielding and coke-producing material shall be distilled for two hours in one retort before the products of the other retort, together with the oil and steam, are turned into it and the course of the gas reversed. This course is to be pursuedwhen the period of distillation of each charge of coal or other similar materials is limited to four hours; but a longer or shorter period may be practiced, provided that the middle of the period of distillation, or thereabout, of one retort shall be the time when the other reciprocating retort shall be charged and the course of the gas be reversed, and the products of the fresh charge, together with the oil and steam feed, be turned'into the retort whose charge is red hot and partially distilled.

The forcible jets of steam, shooting first in one direction and then in the opposite direction from the steam-nozzles H I in F and ousvapors and gases from the retorts when freshly charged and inject them into the reciprocating retorts, and they act as carriers and force pumps to push and disperse the oils, vapors, and gases through these last retorts, and discharge the gas finally from them. They furnish, by decomposition,large volumes of gas to combine with the richer carbonaceous vapors and gases, and to increase the production of good illuminating-gas. Having shown the objects of my invention and one method of accomplishing them, and

having described its construction and opera-.

tion in afull, clear, and exact manner, what I now claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

'1. In a bench of gas-retorts, A, the retorts B G and D E connected together in reciprocating pairs by the cross-pipes F and G, placed on their front ends, which project outside ofthe furnace, and which pipes are provided with valves Z and D, steam-connections L M N O, and nozzles H I and J K, and pipes T U V W for feeding oil, naphtha, or similar fluid matter into them, the said retorts having their stand-pipes placed on their rear ends, I substantially in the manner and for the purposes shown and described. 7

2. The nozzles H I and J K, in combination with the pipes F and G and the retorts B O and D E, substantially inthe manner and for the purposes indicated and described.

3. The reciprocating retorts, in combination with connecting-pipes, having steam-nozzles.

4. The steam-pipes L M, in combination with the superheaters P and Q and with the nozzles .11 I in the pipe F, and the branch steam-pipes N O, in combination with the nozzles J K in the pipe Gr, all provided with valves V W X Y, substantially in the manner and for the purposes described. s

5. The oil-reservoir H, provided with the pipe I for filling it, the float J for indicating the quantity of oil in it, the safety-pipe K, and the attached feed-pipes L M N O and valves I Q R S, constructed substantially in the manner and for the purposes indicated.

6.- The stand-pipes O" G G G", in combination with and placed at the rear end of the retorts B G D E, and inclosed by the back. wall of the furnace, whichprotects them from the direct action of the fire, and prevents the more intense heat of the furnace from filling them up with solid carbon, as set forth.

7. The dip-pipes K L M" N, having a circle of holes, I" I I I, about one inch above their lower and open ends, in combination with the sealing-buckets K L M N, which, when resting on the bottom of'the hydraulic main U, will project at their upper edges up to about the level of the series of holes in the dip-pipes, and which are provided with attached rods 0 0 0'0 and levers P" Q R" S and fulcrums T T T" T, to raise and lower them at pleasure, and to reverse the gas from one reciprocating retort to the other, all constructed substantially in the manner and for the purposes set forth.

8. The hydraulic main U and dip-pipes K L M" N, in combination with a sealing-fluid,

' such as soft soap, an emulsion, or mucilage,

or liquid gelatine, which, by virtue of its plastic and adhesive nature, has the charac teristics of gas-tar in cleansing fresh-made gas; substantially as and for the purpose described.

9. The tubular cutters D, provided with external teeth or spiral cutting-edges G, and attached rods E, having lugs on them, F, to hold them up in the tops of the stand-pipes, when not in use, by resting on the tops of their flanges, through which they are passed by means of oblong holes, in combination with the stand-pipes O", substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

10. The combination of the steam-pipes J with the saddle-pipes H, for the purpose of injecting them into jets of steam to clean them, substantially as shown and described.

11. The process of manufacturing illuminating-gas, which consists in passing the tarry and aqueous vapors and gases distilled from' a fresh charge of coal, wood, peat, turf, or other similar materials undergoing destructive distillation in one retort, in conjunction with oil, petroleum, naphtha, or any suitable oleaginous matter, together with steam, (preferably superheated,) as an injecting, carrying, and gas-yieldin g agent, into a reciprocating retort charged with red-hot coke or partiallydistilled coal, wood, peat, turf,or other suitable substance, to be decomposed conjunctively in the same into fixed gas, and continuing this operation until the said fresh charge is partially distilled, and then shutting 0d the oil and steam feed, and drawing the spent charge from this retort and charging it with a fresh charge of coal, wood, peat, turf, or other similar material, and reversing the course of the gas and turnin g it from the retort last charged with its tarry and aqueous vapors and gases, in conjunction with a stream of oil, petroleum, naphtha, or any other oleaginous matter, together with steam, as an injecting, carrying, and gas-yielding agent, into the other reciprocating retort, Whose charge is now red hot and partially distilled, to be decomposed together in the same into fixed gas, and continuin g this operation until the last fresh charge is partially distilled, and then shutting ofl' the oil and steam'feed, and drawing and charging this last retort again, and reversing the gas, as before, and turning its tarry and aqueous vapors and gases, with the oil and steam feed, into the other retort, and so continuing this alternating process, thus generating, mixing, and combining the gaseous elements of coal, petroleum, and water in the same retort in a nascent state, and during the usual periodot' distillation, into afixed gas of high illuminatin g power.

HENRY W. ADAMS.

Witnesses: p

A. E; BEACH, C. SEDGWIGK. 

